(per RFC5545)
Type name: text
Subtype name: calendar
Required parameters: none
Optional parameters: charset, method, component, and optinfo
The "charset" parameter is defined in [RFC2046] for subtypes of
the "text" media type. It is used to indicate the charset used in
the body part. The charset supported by this revision of
iCalendar is UTF-8. The use of any other charset is deprecated by
this revision of iCalendar; however, note that this revision
requires that compliant applications MUST accept iCalendar streams
using either the UTF-8 or US-ASCII charset.
The "method" parameter is used to convey the iCalendar object
method or transaction semantics for the calendaring and scheduling
information. It also is an identifier for the restricted set of
properties and values of which the iCalendar object consists. The
parameter is to be used as a guide for applications interpreting
the information contained within the body part. It SHOULD NOT be
used to exclude or require particular pieces of information unless
the identified method definition specifically calls for this
behavior. Unless specifically forbidden by a particular method
definition, a text/calendar content type can contain any set of
properties permitted by the Calendaring and Scheduling Core Object
Specification. The "method" parameter MUST be specified and MUST
be set to the same value as the "METHOD" component property of the
iCalendar objects of the iCalendar stream if and only if the
iCalendar objects in the iCalendar stream all have a "METHOD"
component property set to the same value.
The value for the "method" parameter is defined as follows:
method = 1*(ALPHA / DIGIT / "-")
; IANA-registered iCalendar object method
The "component" parameter conveys the type of iCalendar calendar
component within the body part. If the iCalendar object contains
more than one calendar component type, then multiple component
parameters MUST be specified.
The value for the "component" parameter is defined as follows:
component = "VEVENT"
/ "VTODO"
/ "VJOURNAL"
/ "VFREEBUSY"
/ "VTIMEZONE"
/ iana-token
/ x-name
The "optinfo" parameter conveys optional information about the
iCalendar object within the body part. This parameter can only
specify semantics already specified by the iCalendar object and
that can be otherwise determined by parsing the body part. In
addition, the optional information specified by this parameter
MUST be consistent with that information specified by the
iCalendar object. For example, it can be used to convey the
"Attendee" response status to a meeting request. The parameter
value consists of a string value.
The parameter can be specified multiple times.
The value for the "optinfo" parameter is defined as follows:
optinfo = infovalue / qinfovalue
infovalue = iana-token / x-name
qinfovalue = DQUOTE (infovalue) DQUOTE
Encoding considerations: This media type can contain 8bit
characters, so the use of quoted-printable or base64 MIME Content-
Transfer-Encodings might be necessary when iCalendar objects are
transferred across protocols restricted to the 7bit repertoire.
Note that a text valued property in the content entity can also
have content encoding of special characters using a BACKSLASH
character escapement technique. This means that content values
can end up being encoded twice.
Security considerations: See Section 7.
Interoperability considerations: This media type is intended to
define a common format for conveying calendaring and scheduling
information between different systems. It is heavily based on the
earlier [VCAL] industry specification.
Published specification: This specification.
Applications that use this media type: This media type is designed
for widespread use by Internet calendaring and scheduling
applications. In addition, applications in the workflow and
document management area might find this content-type applicable.
The iTIP [2446bis], iMIP [2447bis], and CalDAV [RFC4791] Internet
protocols directly use this media type also.
Additional information:
Magic number(s): None.
File extension(s): The file extension of "ics" is to be used to
designate a file containing (an arbitrary set of) calendaring
and scheduling information consistent with this MIME content
type.
The file extension of "ifb" is to be used to designate a file
containing free or busy time information consistent with this
MIME content type.
Macintosh file type code(s): The file type code of "iCal" is to
be used in Apple MacIntosh operating system environments to
designate a file containing calendaring and scheduling
information consistent with this MIME media type.
The file type code of "iFBf" is to be used in Apple MacIntosh
operating system environments to designate a file containing
free or busy time information consistent with this MIME media
type.
Person & email address to contact for further information: See the
"Author's Address" section of this document.
Intended usage: COMMON
Restrictions on usage: There are no restrictions on where this media
type can be used.
Author: See the "Author's Address" section of this document.
Change controller: IETF